Carers Week 2025 - Holding on to Hope

Carers Week gives us a chance to pause, reflect and shine a light on the quiet strength of unpaid carers across the country, especially those caring for a loved one living with dementia. But for carers, this isn’t just one week a year. It’s every day, often with little respite.

Through my work leading the Exeter Dementia Action Alliance and supporting families, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside people who are giving everything they’ve got to care for someone they love. I’ve seen carers at crisis point, worn down, isolated and overwhelmed, often feeling like they’re screaming into a void.

I’ve had moments where I’ve felt helpless too. But after over a decade immersed in the world of dementia, I’ve come to realise that sharing what I’ve learned really can make a difference, and that feels like a privilege.

The truth is, navigating care isn’t easy. The system is complex and often feels inaccessible. The Care Act 2014 gives carers rights, but unless you know what to ask for, it’s easy to fall through the cracks.

What I want to say clearly this Carers Week is: you’re not alone, and you are not failing. Caring takes courage, and it takes community.

Recently, a family I’ve been supporting made the heart-wrenching decision to move their loved ones into a care home. It’s a decision that often comes after months, or years of doing everything possible at home. There’s no easy time to make that call, and it’s almost always laced with guilt, even when it’s clearly the best choice for everyone.

But something the family shared with me has really stayed with me: the relief of being able to reconnect with their loved ones not just as a carer, but as a partner, a child, simply as family again. One lady told me she could finally just “be the daughter” sit and hold their hands, with no pressure, no urgency, just presence. That change has brought her comfort albeit very difficult.

This story remind me that there’s no perfect way to care. It looks different for every family. What matters is that decisions are made with love, and with the wellbeing of everyone in mind.

So if you’re reading this and feeling like you’re treading water, here are five reminders I’ve gathered over the years from experience, from listening, and from those who’ve been where you are:

You are not failing. You’re doing your best in an incredibly tough situation. Celebrate the small wins, they are important. Some days, just getting through is enough.
Ask for help, and accept it. We often say “let me know if I can do anything,” but a specific offer can go further. A lift to an appointment, a meal dropped off, or even just an hour to yourself can make a real difference.
Find your people. Peer support can be a lifeline. Whether it’s face-to-face or online, connecting with others who get it can ease the burden. A problem shared really is a problem halved.
Let yourself feel. There’s no right or wrong way to process this journey. Guilt, anger, love, sadness, they can all live side by side.
You matter too. Your wellbeing isn’t secondary. It’s essential.

At the Exeter Dementia Action Alliance, we don’t provide direct services, but we’ve spent the last 10 years creating change through awareness, education, and collaboration, all with the aim of creating a more compassionate, informed community.

While there is still no cure, we believe in the power of empathy, connection and understanding to transform the experience of those living with dementia and those who care for them.

Please remember: caring is never just practical, it’s deeply emotional. But you don’t have to do it all, all the time. Sharing the load doesn’t take away from your love. If anything, it strengthens it.

Together, let’s keep holding the hope, for carers, for families, and for a more dementia compassionate world.

Below is a list of local and national organisations offering support. Please don’t wait until things reach crisis point to reach out. Help is out there, and so are people who understand.

Useful local and national services for carers: